Comments on: Focused Moms Challenge Week Two Results

By: Angie White

Angie White — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:57:27 +0000

This past week was challenging to say the least, but it was a step forward. I can honestly say that I hardly ever get on our family computer. Usually every other day, but my cell phone is….was always with me. This week I left my cell phone in the car and in the kitchen on the charger. I have been very aware about answering my phone in the car and placeing calls. I hate to say it, but I did text while sitting at red light and occassionally at stop signs. Well, no more! I am seriously trying not to text so much.

This week’s challenge will be difficult because our family watches tv at night for about an hour together before bedtime. Just as we are right now, but I am on the laptop halfway watching the show. I have talked to them about this distraction, but we will have to keep taking baby steps.

I am looking forward to working on staying tuned in and staying focused this week!

By: Polly

Polly — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:26:10 +0000

It's 5 o'clock somewhere! Ten Reasons Why Moms Need Wine

By: Polly

Polly — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:22:29 +0000

Next week will be interesting! We might have some little people rebelling against the Focused Moms Challenge! LOL! It’s amazing the things we notice when we unplug. I felt the same way about my kids in the afternoons after school. Here I was totally unplugged and ready to interact and there they were on the computer (since I wasn’t sitting there they decided somebody needed to be!), watching tv, or playing on their iPod. Excuse me? But where did they learn all of that from? ME! Thanks for sharing and for joining us in the Focused Moms Challenge!

By: Polly

Polly — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:19:11 +0000

Love it Anne! I agree that I have started doing so many things at night after they’ve gone to bed that I used to try to get accomplished when we could have been doing something as a family! It has been great. I think I actually get my tasks done faster once they are in bed too because I’m not distracted by them! My phone broke about a week ago, too. I did get a new smart phone, but I HAVE NO IDEA how the thing works, so it might as well be a rotary dial phone. LOL! I know exactly what you’re talking about. I haven’t missed my old phone a bit. Glad the Focused Moms picture is helping you. I have it plastered everywhere, I think it even reminds my kids to remind me to stay focused! Thanks so much for commenting and for taking part in the Focused Moms Challenge!

By: Polly

Polly — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:15:05 +0000

I agree with you 100%! I have loved my conversations with my kiddos this week. And to top it off, our DVD player in the car has been off being repaired so they haven’t been lost in a movie while I was trying to talk with them! I’m totally old school this week, driving around town with no DVD playing in the car for the little ones to watch AND no talking on the cell phone for me. We’ve even been looking at birds and trees and flowers! Who knew? LOL! Thanks for your comment and for joining us in the Focused Moms Challenge!

By: Polly

Polly — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:11:44 +0000

Robin, that is awesome! I love your idea of shutting down the computer at night. I agree, I probably wouldn’t want to mess with restarting it for something quick. And don’t worry about falling back into old habits every now and then. As long as you recognize it (and you did!), you’ll be less likely to fall off the wagon in the future. Bumps in the road are teaching moments (for our kids and for us!). Thanks so much for sharing with us and for being a part of the challenge!

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 01:16:15 +0000

Two steps forward and one step back is still progress!

I have had so much fun with my family this week because I limited my time with the electronic world. I did mess up this morning when I was in bed playing on my iPad. My daughter came in and snuggled with me. Instead of putting it away, I HAD to finish my 14 games of Words With Friends…that is until I realized what I was doing. I quickly put my iPad away and had lazy time with her.

Here is what I’ve started doing…I have changed the power configuration on my computer so that it shuts off at night. Because it takes it so long to start back up, 75% of the time I just forget about it turning it back on. Truth is, I haven’t missed it. Sitting in my office for a “quick” check of news and what celebrities are doing usually turns into 30 minutes. Not anymore!!!

I am a better person because of this challenge. In one week my daughter and I fished (more than once), played in mud puddles, rode bikes and lip synced to songs using pretend microphones. Turns out that I have had one of the BEST weeks of my life!!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:08:41 +0000

I also need to get out of the “everything has to be done before 5″ mindset…GOOD CALL!! I can pay my bills/housework/school work ect….ANYTIME of day! (and after 5 I can have the glass of wine that makes those things less stressful!!!) =) Thanks for pointing that out!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:03:31 +0000

I was amazed this week how many times I went for my cellphone in the car. I felt like I had “forgotten my purse” when i drove around town without it at my ear. I had some great conversations with my girls this week. We spend so much time driving to & from activities all afternoon. I was shocked at how much one on one time I have missed with them b/c I was chitchatting about nothing important. I also want to be a better example to them about driving safely. In two years my oldest will be driving on her own. How can I look at her and tell her that she can not talk/text on her phone while she is driving, when the example I have set for her is the exact opposite. I think this challenge is in perfect timing for our generation of mothers. Thank you!

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 15:34:34 +0000

My focused moms STICKER is on my planner (yes I am old school and still use a paper calendar – full 8 & 1/2 x 11 size too!). But every time I opened it this week I saw that FIRST thing and it refocused me on how important and limited my time is with my boys!
As far as my phone goes – mine broke this week and I had to switch to a new (old) one that I had lying around. My new (old) one lets me receive my FB posts but I can’t respond to them….TORTURE right!?? Well – turns out that once the automatic instinct passed to reply to the posts I got – I realized that most of what I had to say was not even really worth typing anyway. So that has been an adjustment for me but a big time saver! Why do I need to comment on everything….???
It really is amazing to see what you see when you just sit and ARE IN THE MOMENT with your children. They are amazing little creatures with unlimited energy & questions. I can watch Dancing with the Stars or make lunches after they are in bed. I stay up until midnight almost every night – after their bedtime has now become the time for these non-child related activities. The world is now open for business almost all 24 hours a day. I am trying to train my brain to get out of the 5pm work hour old school train of thought. I can do almost anything I need to do all day and all night long EXCEPT for spend time with my children!